Printing machine



Jan. 19, 1932. B. FASSMANN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUNO FASSMANN, OF TEMPELHOF, BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ADDRESSO- GRAPH COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PRINTING MACHINE Application filed January 24, 1931, Serial N 0. 510,864, and in Great Britain July 31, 1930.

This invention relates to printing machines 3f the character through which variable printing devices are sequentially passed from which impressions are made, and it is particularly directed to a control system for such printing machines.

It is often desirable to interrupt the operation of a printing machine at determined times during the operation thereof, as for e g ample, when the last of a series of dev1ces has, or when a certain number of printing devices have, passed therethrough. It is therefore a salient object of my invention to provide a novel control system for printing machines which may be operated from members on the printing devices. H

Printing machines of the above described character usually have associated therewith a selector mechanism, and another object is to provide a control system which may be,

if desired, associated with such a selector mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a control system operable in cooperation with or independently of the selector mechanism of a printing machine.

In the selected embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying draw- 1ngs- Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a machine with which my control system is associated, the electrical connections being diagrammatically illustrated;

Fig. 1a is apartly diagrammatic view illustrating the operating devices for the printing device moving means;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of this system; and V Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another 40 modification of the system.

In the accompanying drawings wherein l have illustrated selected embodiments of my invention 4 indicates the frame of the machine having cooperating printing device guideways 5,5 therein in which suitable printing device conveying means such as the chains 6 may be provided for moving the printing devices 7 therethrough. The chains 6 are directed about sprockets 7 5 mounted on the shaft 76 journaled in bearings in the frame 4: adjacent the front of the machine. On one of the sprockets 75 are pins 77 arranged in circumferentially spaced relation about the shaft 76. A pawl 78 is pivotally mounted on the link 7 9 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at 80 to the arm 81 pivotally mounted on the frame 4: at 82. One

end of a connecting rod 83 is pivotally connected to the link 7 9 andthe arm 81 at the pivotal connection 80, and the other end thereof is connected to the crank 84 on the shaft85 journaled in bearings in the frame 4. Fast on the shaft 85 is a pulley 86 about which a belt 87 is directed, and this belt extends about a pulley 88 fast on the shaft 26 of the operating means, and this operating means not only operates the above described printing device moving means but also operates the platen as will be described. As the shaft 26 is rotated in a manner to be described, movement is transmitted through the belt 87 to rotate the shaft 85 whereby the crank 84 is operated and a reciprocatory movement is imparted through the connecting rod 83 to the link 7 9 and thence to the pawl 7 8 which, during the ascending movement of the link 79, is engaged with a pin 77 and therefore the sprocket 7 5 and the chains 6 are moved, and this movement is such that the printing devices are moved through one step of movement thereof in the printing device guideways. On the descending movement of the link 79, the pawl78 is retracted until the nose thereof engages the pin 7 7 following the pin previously engaged and no movement is imparted to the chains 6. Thus, a step-by-step movement is imparted to the chains and the printing device carried thereby. The printing device 7 is disposed in what is known as selecting position in the machine and the printing device 7 is disposed at what is known as printing position. Impressions are made from printing devices disposed similarly to the printing device 7 through a suitable ink ribbon R by a platen 8 mounted in the arm 9 pivotally mounted on the bearing 10. The arm 9 includes a portion 11, depending below the bearing 10, having a pin 12 thereon engageable in a notch 13 in the link 1 1 pivotally connected to the rocker 15 at 16. The rocker 15 is pivotally mounted at 17 on the frame Connected to the rocker 15 at 18 is a link 19 pivotally connected at 20 to a crank arm 21 fixed on the shaft 22. Fixed on the shaft 22 is a pulley 23 and an endless belt is directed thereabout and also about the pulley 25 fixed on the shaft 26. A pulley 27 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 26 and an endless belt 28 is directed thereabout and to a suitable source of power such as an electric motor or the like (not shown). Fixed on the shaft 26 is a collar 29 having a notch 30 therein in which the nose 31 on the pawl 32 may seat to connect pulley 27 to shaft 26. The pawl 32 is pivotally mounted on the pulley 27 at and is acted on by the spring 3% to urge the nose toward the collar 29. When the parts are in at rest position the tail of the pawl engages the arm 35 of the bell crank pivotally moun ed on the frame l at The arm 38 of the bell crank 36 is engageable with the latch arm 39 of the bell crank 40 pivotally mounted on the frame a1 and including an armature 4:2 juxtaposed to the end of the core d3 of the electro-magnet 44. A spring urges the latch arm 39 into engagement with the arm 38 to hold the arm 35 out of the path of the tail of the pawl 32 a ainst the action of the spring 46 to thereby permit the spring 3% to seat the nose 31 in the notch 30. However, when the electro-magnct is energized the armature arm is attracted by the core 43 and the latch arm 39 is disengaged from the arm 38 and therefore the spring 16 may pivot the arm 35 into the path of the tail of the pawl 32 and the nose 31 will therefore be disengaged from the notch 30. A rod 47 is connected to the a m 38 which may be manually moved to move the arm 35 out of the path of the tail of the pawl 3.1 to permit the seating of the nose 31 in the notch 30. Thus. when the electro-magnet 1% is ole-energized and the rod 17 is in an upper position the arm 35 will lie in the path of the tail of the pawl 32 to normally hold the nose 31 out of the notch 30, but when the electro-magnet 44 is energized or the rod 17 is moved downwardly the spring will seat the nose 31 in the notch 30 and thus interconnect the pulley 27 and the shaft 26 to thereby impart movement to the pulley 25, which movement will be transmitted through the belt 34 to pulley 23 and shaft 22 and thence to the crank arm 21 and through link 19 to rocker 15 to reciprocate the link 16. A shaft 48 is journaled in the frame and at one end thereof carries a dog 19 on which there is a roller 50 en 'ageable with the block 51 at the free end of the link 14:. When the dog 49 is disposed in the position illustrated the block 51 rides on the roller 50 during the beginning of rcciprocation of the rocker 15 and holds the notch 13 from engagement with the pin 12 and thus the platen arm 9 is not connected to the link 1 1 to receive movement therefrom. On the end of the shaft opposite the dog 49 there is fixed a dog 52 which has a nose 53 engageable with the nose 5% on the armature 55 pivotally mounted on the frame. The armature 55 is attractable by the core 56 of the electromagnet 57 when the electro-magnet is energized to thereby pivot the nose 5 1 from engagement with the nose 53 to permit the spring 58 to pivot the dog 52. The pivotal movement of the dog 52 is transmitted through the shaft 48 to the dog 19 to move the roller 50 out of the path of the block 51 and therefore when the rocker 1% is reciprocated the notch 13 may seat on the pin 1.2 to interconnect the link 14: to the platen arm 9 to thereby impart movement to the platen 8. WVhen the link ll begins the return movement along with the rocker 15, the blo r 51 will en- *e the roller 50 and will reposition it in the lication illustrated and the latch 59 that is urged into engaging position by the spring 60 will engage the projection 61 to hold the parts in position until the nose 54- again reengages the nose 53. It is therefore apparent that the connection between the platen arm 9 and the link 14 depends upon the ener gizing of the electro-magnet 57. The determination of this ronnection is made from the printing dGVlL'U 7 in selecting position just prior to movement thereof into printing position and this is done by providing suitable members or other variable means on the printing devices which, in the illustrated embodiment, are tabs T engageable by detecting fingers 62 pivotally mounted on the shaft 63. On the fingers 62 are blocks of insulating material 6 which respectively rest on the spring contact arms a to a, and when the fingers 62 engage tabs T they pivot and force the contact arms a to a downwardly into engagement with the contact arms 5 to The contact arms a to a and to b are connected in parallel in an electric circuit so arranged that engaging of predetermined of the contacts will energize the electro-magnet 57. In order that only engagement of predetermined of the contacts will close the circuit to the electro-magnet 57. switches c to 0 are provided, which are of the type that may be readily moved into closing position and retained therein until released. Each of the switches include contacts d to (Z and c to 6 respectively. Conductors f to f interconnect the contact arms and conductor 68.

" .5 connected to the conductor 65 through a cona to a and the contacts (Z to (Z respectively. A conductor 65 is connected to one terminal of the source of current 66 and conductors g to g in-terconnect this conductor and the contacts Z2 to 5 respectively. Each of the contacts 6 to e is individually connected to the conductor 67 connected to one end of the winding of the electro-magnet 57, the other end of the Winding being connected by a conductor 68 to the other terminal of the source of current 66. Therefore, by closing selected of the switches c to c circuit may be established from the source of current to the electro-magnet 57 when contacts controlled by the fingers 62 are engaged provided the respective switches c to 0 are closed in accordance with the engaged contacts. Thus, in the present instance where the switches 0 c and c are closed interengagement of the contacts a and 6 a and 6 or a and b will close a circuit to the electro-magnet 5'? to attract the armature to thereby permit operation of the platen 8. Shouldthe contacts a and 6* be engaged when none of the other contacts are engaged circuits will not be closed to the electro-magnet 57 since the switch 0 is open. If, forexample, the switch 0 is closed and the contacts a and Z) are engaged, circuit to the electro-magnet 57 will be closed in the following manner: From the source of current 66 through conductor 65, conductor 9 contact I), contact a conductor i contact switch 0 conductor 6 conductor '67, winding of the electroanagnet 57,

It has been pointed out that it is sometimes desirable to interrupt operation of the machine and I have provided an arrangement operableby one of the tabs T located in a predetermined position on the prlnting devices, which tab will operate contacts corresponding to and associated-with the contacts a to a and 6 to If. To this end I have provided contacts a and If. The contact 6 is ductor 9 A conductor 7 is connected to the contact a and to a conductor 69. The conductor 69 is connected to one end ofthe winding of the electro-magnet 44 and a conductor is connected to the other end of this winding and to the conductor 68. Therefore, whena tab T on a printing device in selecting position, in alignment with the finger 62 cooperating with the contact a causes interengagement of the contacts a and 5 a circuit will be closed to the electro-magnet 44 in the following manner: From the source of current 66 through conductor 65, conductor 9 contact 6 contact al conductor f conductor 69, winding of the electro-magnet 44;, conductor 70, and conductor 68 to the source of current 66. This energizes electro-magnet 44 to thereby cause disengagement of the nose 31 from the notch 30. When the device is arranged in the above described manner, a

tab T in a predetermined position operates a set of contacts independent of the selector system, yet associated with the controlling contacts thereof, to interrupt operation of the machine.

Under certainconditions it may be desirable to also make a selection from the tab used to interrupt operation of the machine and when this is desired the system is arranged as disclosed in Fig. 2. The mechanisms operated by the system shown in Fig. 2 are similar to those shown in Fig. 1 and similar electrical connections are provided except that another switch 0 is associated with the switches c to 0 which switch includes contacts (Z to 6 in this instance the conductor 7 GXLGHClS between the contacts a and al However, the conductor f is also connected to the conductor 69. Thus, when a tab T operates tne linger 62 engaging the contacts a nd Z2 circuit will be closed to the electromagnet 44. If the switch 0 is closed, circuit will be simultaneously closed to the electromagnet 5?, but if the switch 0 is open circuit will not be closed to the electro-magnet 57 unless the printing device bearing the tab T which brings about the interengagement of the contacts a and 6 also has another tab thereon to engage contacts in circuit with a closed one of the switches 0 to 0 It is therefore manifest that the system as disclosed in Fig. 2 utilizes a set of contacts in the selector and that these utilized contacts are not independent of the selector system.

It may-be desirable under certain conditions to utilize any one of the sets of contacts to bring about interruption of operation of the machine, and the manner in which the system would be arranged to accomplish this is illustrated in Fig. 8. Herein an additional set of switches 7& to it are provided, which are substantially similar to the switches 0 to 0 and these switches include pairs of contacts i to 2' and j to 7' respectively, and the contacts 2" to 2' are connected to the conductors f to 7, respectively. The contacts j to are individually connected to the con ductor 69. Thus, by closing desired ones of the switches c to c the operation of the selector mechanisms may be controlled. By closing certain one of the switches k to it the controlling system may be arranged for opera-tion. in the present instance the switch /t is closed and thus when a tab T, located sirni arly to that heretofore described, that is to engage the contacts a and a moves into position to actuate the finger 62 circuit will be closed to the electro-magnet 4A through the closed switch 7L1. If the switch 0 is closed the electro-magnet 57 will also be actuated, but if this switch is open the electro-magnet 57 will not be operated unless a tab on the printing device 7 engages a pair of the contacts a to a and Z2 to 6 corresponding to closed switches 0 to 0 If the switch it is closed and the other of the switches h to h are open, a tab which engages the contacts a and b will be utilized to bring about interruption of the operation of the machine. From this it is apparent that any one of the tab positions may be used either to control selection or to control the interruption of operation of the machine.

I have described five sets of contacts and five selecting switches but it is to be understood that a greater or less number might be provided depending upon the number of positions provided in the machine and the number of tab positions on the printing devices.

In the foregoing description I have set forth how interruption of the operation of a printing machine may be brought about by devices associated with the selector mechanism of a printing machine and it is to be understood that, if desired, such a device might be associated with a machine not hav ing selector mechanism, for manifestly when the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. l the mechanisms which control operation of the machine are independent of the selector system. However, it is apparent that the device may be readily connected to cooperate with the selector mechanism by being arranged in the electrical circuits of the selector mecl anism either with a portion of such mechanism or with the entire mecha nism.

While I have illustrated and described selected embodiments of my invention and have diagrammatically illustrated tie same it is to be understood that certain variations and modifications might be made ther in and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having varia ble means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, controlling means for regulating operation of said platen, a plurality of sets of electrical. contacts, contact operating means engageable with the variable means on said printin cevices whereby said contacts are operated when said contact operating means engage variable means on the printing devices, certain of said contacts being included in an electric circuit determining the operation of said controlling means, and means controlled by at least one set of contacts for controlling the operation of said operating means.

2. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a

platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling the operation of said platen and including an electric circuit having sets of contacts therein controlled by the variable means on said printing devices whereby impressions are made only from printing devices having variable means located at predetermined positions thereon, and means controlling the operation of said operating means and including an electric circuit having a set of contacts therein operable by the variable means disposed at a predetermined position on said printing devices.

3. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling operation of said platen and including an electro-magnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnct and operable by the variable means on said printing devices, and means controlling operation of said operating means and including an electro-magnet and a set of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet and operable by the variable means on said printing devices.

l. In a printing machine, means sequentially movin' printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling the operation of said platen and including an electro-magnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet and operable by the variable means on said printing devices, and

means controlling the operation of said opcrating means and including an electromagnet and a set of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet and disposed in juxtaposition to but independent of the first set of contacts and operable by variable means on said printing devices.

5. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing d vices having variable means thereon through the machine, a

platen for making il'npressions from the.

printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, controlling means for regulating the operation of said platen, a plurality of sets of electrical contacts, contact operating means engagcable with the variable means on said printing devices whereby said contacts are operated when said contact operating means engage variable means on the printing devices, means in circuit with said contacts for determining the operation of said controlling means, another set of contacts disposed in juxtaposition to but independent of the first contacts, and means in circuit with said juxtaposed set of contacts for controlling the operation of said operating means.

6. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operat ing said printing device moving means and said platen, latching means for regulating the operation of said platen, a plurality of sets of electrical contacts, contact operating means engageable with the variable means on said printing devices, means in circuit with said contacts for determining the operation of said latching means, switch means in circuit with said contacts and the means determining the operation of said controlling means whereby said latching means is operated only when predetermined of said contact operating means engage variable means on said printing devices located at predetermined positions, another set of contacts disposed in juxtaposition to but independent of the first contacts, and means in circuit with said juxtaposed set of contacts for controlling the operation of said operating means.

7. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling the operation of said platen and including an electro-magnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet and operable by the variable. means on said printing devices, and means controlling the operation of said operating means and including an electro-magnet in circuit with one of said first-named sets of contacts to be controlled thereby,

8. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from the printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, latching means for regulating the operation of said platen, a plurality of sets of electrical contacts, contact operating means engageable with the variable means on said printing devices, means in circuit with said contacts for determining the operation of said latching means, switch means in circuit with said contacts and the means determining the operation of said latchingmeans whereby said latching means is operated only when predetermined of said contact operating means engage variable means on said printing devices located at predetermined positions, and means for controlling the op 'eration of said operating means and in circuit with at least one set of said contacts whereby operation thereof may be controlled by the switch in circuit with said set of contacts so that when said switch is closed and said set of contacts is operated by variable means located on the printing devices at a predetermined position said latching means and said operating means will be jointly controlled.

9. In. a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from said printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling the operation of saidplaten and including an electro-magnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet and operable by the variable means on said printing devices, and means controlling the operation of said operating means and including an electro-magnet in circuit with said first-named sets of contacts to be controlled thereby.

10. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from. said printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling operation of said platen and including an electromagnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet operable by the variable' means on said printing devices, means controlling the operation of said operating means including an electro-magnet in circuit wit-h said first-named sets of contacts'to be controlled thereby, and means for selectively connecting said sets of contacts in circuit with said first-named electro-magnet.

11. In a printing machine, means sequentially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a"

platen for making impressions from said printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and said platen, selector means controlling operation of said platen and including an electro magnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet operable by the variable means on said printing devices, means controlling the operation of said ope-rating means including an electro-magnet in circuit with said first-named sets of contacts to be controlled thereby, and means for selectively connecting said sets of contacts in circuit with the second elect-ro-magnet.

12. In a printing tially moving printing devices having variable means thereon through the machine, a platen for making impressions from said printing devices, operating means for operating said printing device moving means and machine, means sequen- 7 said platen, selector means controlling operation of said platen and including an electromagnet and sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnet operable by the Variable means on said printing devices, means controlling the operation of said operating means including an electro-magnet in circuit with said first-named sets of contacts to be controlled thereby, and means for selectively connecting said sets of contacts in circuit with said electro-magnets.

BRUNO FASSMANN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,842,089. Granted January 19, 1932, to

BRUNO FASSMANN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, in the heading to the printed specification, line 5, application filing clause, before the word "and" insert the words in Germany June 14, 1929; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of April, A. I). 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

